TV projects

We help Russian television and cinema to film historical shows, documentaries and motion pictures. If you are working in a complex genre of costume movie, we can give you historical props, make your picture more spectacular, and most importantly — authentic.

We have been engaged in historical reenactment for a long time, so it’s usually hard for us to watch historical films: blunders, anachronisms, absurd costumes cause anguish and frustration. Therefore, the agency specialists have decided to correct this misunderstanding and create a department for the organization and consultation of filming, a workshop to produce historical props and a storehouse to keep them in.

«Ratobortsy» consult and produce props for films of any complexity: from costumes to household items. They also direct fight scenes, work with horses, prepare and conduct historical experiments, equip extras for any epoch, which the customer needs.

We participate in producing of documentaries and feature films, historical TV shows, music videos and commercials.
You can rent our props.
The most important thing: «Ratobortsy» produce only beautiful stories.

More than 600 elements of historical clothings

you need props for filming?

Or trained staff for tricks, dance, fencing or extras? We are familiar with this situation and can fill in any missing items, even if you need to array the whole company in medieval costumes. We can do the following:

Entirely dress,

equip and train your actors and extras to handle with props;

Put to your disposal our extras and characters of the first plan,

who are equipped according to customer’s specifications and presenting any epoch: from the Stone Age to the war in Afghanistan;

Organize extras

from reenactors. We will command these people during all filming period;

Provide our shooting area with ready-made decorations

or come to your location and build the required scenery in strict accordance with your technical specifications and historical realities;

Produce individual items of historical everyday practice:

from authentic costumes to historically accurate weapon models;

Provide special «character» artefacts

for close-ups;

Give «working» equipment and weapons for stuntmen

NB! Our general director has played almost all bearded characters of Russian history:

Ilya Muromets, Kuzma Minin, warlord Shein, a bearded robber, a bearded archer, village headman, Prince Vladimir. So if you have a role for the guy with an unbelievable beard, now you know where to find the best candidate.

«Sapog’s forge»;

«Film about a journey through festivals»;

Historical Festival «Ladogafest»

portfolio

Here you can find examples of several interesting projects with our participation. This is a depiction of the creative development of «Ratobortsy».

Russian bastions

TV channel «My Planet» and «United media group», Moscow, 2015

For a series of documentaries dedicated, to famous Russian fortresses «Ratobortsy» held a demonstration cycle of scientific experiments: we «drowned» a XIII century Teutonic Knight, tested range and destructive power of Medieval siege weapons, stormed ramparts in full armor of XV century, arrowed at replicas of chain mails.

Agency experts wrote scripts, fit props and provided historical authenticity of each series. The ratoborian CEO Alexey Ovcharenko tried himself as an anchorman.

Studio project, directed by Dmitry Bogolyubov, Moscow, 2015

An unusual challenge for the agency: elaboration of the music video in the folk-fantasy style. «Ratobortsy» designed and sewed very cool costumes , which had no historical linkage, but were made in ethnic style. By the way, the video concept and rendering of songs are implemented by agency employees, the two Anastasias: Ovcharenko and Leonevskaya. At the moment the clip is fully dubbed in, we are waiting for the release!

Wise Oleg

TV channel «Russia 1» and «United media group», Moscow, 2015

A popular science film about the great prince Oleg. «Ratobortsy» advised on it and provided all the costumes for the characters and extras. By the way, the extras and supporting characters were from agency staff. The film is ready and is going to be shown on TV.

Name of victory

Documentary mini-movies. VGTRK and the Russian Military History Society, Moscow, 2014

A series of short films «Name of victory» is dedicated to outstanding figures of Russian history. To provide props, clothings for the filming and several actors from among our agency, «Ratobortsy» had not more than a week and minimum budget. The result — 33 excellent videos, full of sovereign enthusiasm. One can watch them on the official website of the project.

Land of heroes. Ilya Muromets

TV channel «Russia 1» and «United media group» Moscow, 2014

The history of Russian Hercules — Ilya Muromets. This was the development of cooperation with the «United media group.» After filming the serial «Russian bastions» in cooperation with the TV channel «My Planet», which proved to be very successful, we started working on the «Land of heroes». As usual «Ratobortsy» provided the props and costumes, and our general director played the bearded bogatyr.

La lista de Erick: Viaje al pasado

Rusia del siglo X. Телеканал Russia today, 2014

Documentary about Pavel Sapozhnikov, the hero of the «Alone in the past» project, filmed for Spain. It’s a perfect example of how one can make a TV show fit for any audience, including foreign, on the basis of a ratoborian project and a ready location «The Farmstead».

Sergius of Radonezh. Terrestrial and celestial

TV channel «Russia 1» and «United media group», Moscow, 2014

«Ratobortsy» built a location for filming the story about the great saint. And our employee, woodcarver Dmitry Salomatin played Sergius in his younger years. Dmitry began to feel at home in the role of saints and played them in the other two projects.

Liberators. Minin and Pozharsky

ТTV channel «Russia 1», Moscow, 2012

Filming about the Time of Troubles and the struggle against foreign invaders was the most rapid work in our career. The agency prepared props and costumes or the main characters in just two weeks. In addition, our general director Denis Demin played Kuzma Minin himself, no wonder, having regard to his unique acting talent and the beard. Timothey Bykovsky, the agency partner, got another great role — Prince Pozharsky.

Alexander. Battle of the Neva

Studio «Nikola—film», St. Petersburg, 2007

Filming of the movie about the Novgorod Prince Alexander Yaroslavich and the battle of the Neva River against the Swedes was a global challenge for the agency. Our colleague, the historian K. Zhukov, for six months literally setteled in workshops producing props and costumes, in close contact with the assistant directors and production designer. His task was to advise on the entire hardware, organize extras from more than 150 reenactors and to develop battle scenes. Denis Demin, the ratoborian general director got in the official trailer of the movie, playing a brutal bearded archer.

faces in the frame

shooting area

A huge area is allocated for cinematography outside the living history park «Real past». Undeveloped backgrounds, horizons, not spoiled by power lines and settlements, allow to film circular panoramas if you like. At the shooting area there are recreation zone with toilets, cafe, electricity, wardrobe, parking and approach directly to the location of filming.

In addition, in the Park you will find:

Slavic settlement with log huts, bathhouse, barn, sheds;

Medieval farmyard with authentic animals;

Shooting range;

Big props for filming.

Are you ready to create documentary TV projects of the new generation? At the slavic settlement in 2017 we’ll begin to shoot a serial in the style of «Victorian Farm». And during «Seven in the past» a reality show about «viking survival» will be launched.

The shooting process must not be interrupted, because time is money! On our ground you can stay the night with camera crews, actors and all your equipment. It will be warm and dry rain or shine, wet or fine.

If necessary, we ensure hot meals for your crew. Delicious «cinema-lunch» (as well as breakfast and dinner) at the specified time. Size and quality of our meals will make you eager to stay a little more.

The agency works with a complete set of official documents: budget, accounting reports. We have large experience working with public funding, including as subcontractors. We’ll prepare the documentation that exactly matches the requirements of your customer. We are also ready to advise you on preparation of application and reporting documents.

At your disposal there is our service staff — skilled men in orange jackets. They will prepare decorations, ensure operability of any equipment. They will also clear away, dig out or bury what you need. If necessary, these guys look in the frame perfectly: in their orange jackets or authentic costumes as extras.

«Ratobortsy» have accumulated a huge footage of high quality videos from various festivals, historical marches, living history experiments, tournaments and exhibitions. If you are interested in this product — contact us.

During filming, the most valuable resource is time. If you need to complete filming in a short time, «Ratobortsy» are ready for 4 shifts per day and overdriving, till the words, «Thank you all, shooting is finished for today» are said.

Do you need special decorations?

«Ratobortsy» will realize any of your requests.

What experiments we’re talking about?

There are so many things in the field of history that are difficult to convey in words from a textbook — it is easier to blow something up than to tell several times how it looks like.
Ratoborian asset are:

Viking raids and arson of settlements;

destruction of «field fortifications»;

experiment of «comparative flotage» of Russian and Teutonic warriors;

our arrows spiked copies of chain mails more than once;

our medieval costumes are not dress for extras, but our precious and dearest things.

If you have unusual ideas

We are ready to bring them to life! So if you’re shooting a scientific broadcast or want to make your movie more dramatic and spectacular — you are welcome to our historic Experimentarium.